Buyers And Breeders Rave About Walk In The Park At Goffs

Walk In The Park dominated the top of the market on the third day of the Goffs December NH Sale, where the Grange Stud sire was responsible for five of the top six lots.

The sire of the moment topped the second day’s trade with a record-equalling €155,000 colt and led the way once again on Wednesday, with the final lot in the ring fetching €100,000. Galbertstown Stables consigned the session topper, a strong June-born colt bred by Sean Ronan out of Listed winner and Grade 2 performer Duhallow Gesture.

Richard Rohan was the successful buyer and plans to resell the bay as a three-year-old through brother-in-law Michael Moore’s Ballincurrig House Stud. “He was a real collector's item,” Rohan said of his most expensive purchase of the sale so far. “The minute I saw him, I knew I couldn't leave him behind, but I didn't think we would have to go quite that far in the final furlong to get him.”

Delighted breeder Ronan said, “He was a very good foal, a really athletic horse and a great mover. He hasn't put a foot wrong from the very start and Pa and the lads at Galbertstown have done a great job with him, but we weren't expecting him to make as much as he did.”

Sean Ronan described Walk In The Park as “phenomenal” and Ronan Griffin was similarly complimentary, after buying one of the sire’s colts for €68,000. “The stats and results for Walk In The Park speak for themselves,” Griffin said. “He’s just had another good weekend, so it’s good to be able to buy a part of him.”

Griffin was speaking after signing the docket for Oliver Loughlin’s Walk In The Park colt out of Where Dreams Begin, which he bought on behalf of a client to resell. It marked a fantastic result for breeder Loughlin, whose son Alan commented, “He had a great walk, great balance, and the stallion helped. He’s the best stallion in Europe, and I heard someone say he’s the best since Deep Run.”

Walk In The Park’s other notable results on the day included Yellowford Farm’s colt selling to Michael Fitzpatrick’s JC Bloodstock for €66,000 and Clonbonny Stud’s colt bringing €60,000 from Nevin Bloodstock. Richard Fribsy went to €58,000 for a filly offered by Ashwood Stud- the same price paid by Niall Bleahen for Ballyreddin Stud’s colt.

Leading store sale consignor Bleahen has previously enjoyed success with the sire, as he retold, “We bought the Walk In The Park half-sister to Irish Grand National winner Rogue Angel here as a foal for €20,000 and sold her to Paul Nicholls for €110,000.” Of his latest purchase, he said, “He is a brother to a talented horse from the same Montjeu sireline and I really liked him as a model.For such a big, strong foal, he is a really easy mover and showed such a nice, relaxed mindset.”